'I was privileged to sit next to Mike Neville when I was a presenter with Tyne Tees. To be doing his job at the BBC is incredible' MY PLACE.

Byline: Karen Wilson

PRESENTER JEFF Brown is the anchorman for Look North in the North East and Cumbria. Many readers will know Jeff for his years spent as a regular sports presenter for Look North, though recently he has become a more prominent part of our living rooms taking up the role of BBC Look North presenter, while Carol Malia is on maternity leave.

Jeff has spent many years in thes North East, where he grew up, and previously worked at The Journal for ten years as a sports reporter before moving into television.

He recently took part in The Northern Rock Cyclone charity cycling event, raising money for the Newcastle United Foundation.

Where do you live? Jarrow, in South Tyneside.

How long have you lived there? Coming up for 16 years now. Must get round to doing that work on the kitchen sometime soon... What's your dream home? Somewhere overlooking the sea - anywhere on our fabulous North East coast.

How do you get around? Bus and Metro (for the pub), car and bike (for work), walk (for pleasure).

What is your favourite part of the North East? The coastline and our beautiful beaches - from Roker to Ross Links in Northumberland.

What is your favourite building in the region? It was my old red-brick primary school (sadly, demolished in 1997).

These days - though it's not strictly a building - the Gateshead Millennium Bridge is stunning when you're cycling over it early in the morning.

What is the best holiday you've ever had? Last Christmas in New York with my wife, Susan, and our teenage daughter, or driving round Canada in a minibus with some great friends. Then there was my first trip to America - a three-week fly-drive round California with one of my best mates. Or any trip to Italy.

What's the favourite thing in your home? A Mackenzie Thorpe print, which was part of my leaving present from Tyne Tees Television. It's of a young boy at a football match. He's wearing a knitted hat and scarf, perched on his father's shoulders and cheering his head off. Reminds me of the first game my dad took me to, in September 1968. The start of a lifelong obsession! If you could have one luxury what would it be?

A tennis court in the back garden (though having accidentally put a backhand volley into my wife's eye last year, I'm not sure she'd agree... ).

What are you working on at the moment? I've just taken over as anchorman for BBC Look North, sitting in for the unflappable Carol Malia while she's on maternity leave. And yes, she is as lovely off-screen as she is on screen! I was privileged to sit next to the great Mike Neville when I was a sports presenter with Tyne Tees. To be doing his old job, here at the BBC, is just incredible.

Who or what is the love of your life? My wife, my daughter, my family and a host of life-long friends who feel like family! Where is your favourite place in the North East? A certain grass tennis court in Whitburn - especially on a sunny day.

What is your favourite shop? For clothes, it's Edo on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle (with Leaf and Jules B close behind). And for nearly 16 years my breakfast toast has come from John and the lovely Sheila at J& S Home Bakery in Hill Street, Jarrow.

What is your favourite restaurant? Pete Zulu's restaurant at the Black Horse pub in West Boldon. Good beer, great food - the perfect place to chill out at the end of a long week.

And Caff Vivo on the Newcastle quayside.

Favourite pub? Any pub that serves real ale! But the beer and the banter in the King's Arms at Deptford in Sunderland is always top-class..

Favourite meal? Lamb shanks or belly pork at the Black Horse, followed by my mum's treacle sponge pudding (with the skin off the custard).

Are you any good at cooking? Hmm - not really a question for me, that one. I love cooking, but (allegedly) spend too much time fishing for compliments afterwards.

Can't remember what I'd made, but my daughter once said I was so pleased with it she thought I'd just built the Taj Mahal... Do you spend much time in your kitchen? A fair amount. If I'm on a day off I try to make something for that night's evening meal. My wife would say it's an excuse to avoid doing all the jobs around the house... and she's probably not far wrong.

What's the last play or film you saw? We're regular theatre-goers - especially to the excellent Live Theatre in Newcastle. But the last play I saw was Alf Ramsey Knew My Grandfather at the Gala Theatre in Durham - the story of West Auckland winning the first World Cup. It was wonderfully written by Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood, whose play Maggie's End we'd seen in London the week before. It starred Melanie Hill, who's an old school friend.

What book are you reading at the moment? I tend to fall asleep reading the newspaper supplements untouched from the weekend, but I've just finished Paralympian Stephen Miller's autobiography, and just started Robert Peston's eye-opener Who Runs Britain?.

What are you listening to on your iPod/CD player? Anything and everything, from Basement Jaxx to Puccini, from Miles Davis to Johnny "Guitar" Watson.

Can't believe I'm going to miss the chance to see Steely Dan touring the UK this year, but went to the first night of the Specials' reunion tour at the Carling Academy in Newcastle a few weeks ago. They were magnificent.

What's your favourite TV programme? You mean apart from Look North? Everybody Loves Raymond is always on at breakfast time. Have I Got News For You is a must. Aside from that The Mighty Boosh and Desperate Housewives.

What are you proudest of? My daughter, who's off to drama school in London soon.

Do you have any wisdom to share? Enjoy yourself - it's later than you think.

When and where were you happiest? Given what I've got, who couldn't be happy?

CAPTION(S):

A GOOD SPORT TV anchorman Jeff Brown.